‘Iron Man 3’ Is North Carolina’s Biggest Blockbuster Ever [NC Film]
Filmed in and around Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as on location in Florida, California, and China last year, Disney and Marvel’s highly anticipated Iron Man 3 has arrived, officially opening in North America tomorrow, with preview screenings starting tonight around the country.
We predicted last year that Iron Man 3 would be the biggest movie ever made in North Carolina, and it’s record breaking box office numbers overseas since opening in many foreign markets last Friday have already accomplished that feat. While the sequel hasn’t event opened in North America yet, it has already out grossed the overseas first week numbers of last year’s mega-hit super ensemble The Avengers, which was the most successful Marvel movie to date.
In addition, while debate intensifies in Raleigh of whether or not the state’s film tax incentive is paying for itself, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) released a new analysis this week on the economic impact that Iron Man 3 had on North Carolina in 2012, finding that the production brought $179.8 million in spending and over 2,000 jobs into the state.
The analysis also says that the production is responsible for $104.1 million in labor income across North Carolina, and that spending associated with the film engaged 719 vendors in 84 communities across the state.
Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man 3’.
“These findings are just the latest evidence of the economic benefit that film and television production has meant for North Carolina,” said Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America. “Thanks to a reliable and refundable production incentive, North Carolinians have been able to reap the benefits of direct spending and job creation across the state. Marvel’s Iron Man 3, like so many productions that choose to shoot in North Carolina, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in spending for local businesses in dozens of communities and thousands of jobs for North Carolina workers.”
You can click here to read the full press release from the MPAA over at NChollywood.com.
Locally, Currituck County is hoping to break into North Carolina’s movie making industry, as county and state officials plan to meet this month to discuss opening an NC film office in the area.
Is anyone else ready for Dare County to get on board with Currituck, to form a new “Eastern North Carolina Film Commission”? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Iron Man returns in Marvel’s ‘Iron Man 3’.
Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce and Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of Tales of Suspense (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with The Invincible Iron Man (#1) in May of 1968.
Iron Man 3 is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso, Alan Fine, Charles Newirth, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers.
Iron Man romances Gwyneth Paltrow in Marvel’s ‘Iron Man 3’.
Scroll down to watch both theatrical trailers and view the entire poster gallery!
Marvel’s Iron Man 3 starts tonight, playing locally at 9pm at R/C KDH Movies 10 in Kill Devil Hills and North Beach Movie Diner in Corolla.
We’ll have our official movie review of Iron Man 3 up next week, and be sure to let us know what you think after you see it!
(click an image to enlarge)
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